Advertising scale



Aug. 23, 1927. 1 I 1,640,112 5. G. CRANE ADVERTISING SCALE Filed Nov. 21. 191 9 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 V v I I 1,640,112 Aug. 23,1921. ska CRANE 1 ADVERTISING SCALE Filed Nov. 21, .9I 9 3 Sheets-Sheet z q M -mmuummF Aug. 23, 1927.

s. :5. CRANE ADVERTISING SCALE Filed Nov. 21, gang 1' s Sheets-Shep; s

Patented Aug. 23, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,640,112 PATENT OFF1CE;

SAMUEL G. URANE, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOB T TOLEDO SCALE COMPANY, 01 TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION 01' NEW JERSEY.

ADVERTISING SCALE.

Application filed November 21, 1919. Serial No. 889,684.

This invention relates to advertising and counting devices operated in connection with and as auxiliary to other mechanism, and I have illustrated as a preferred embodiment thereof a weighing scale, to use with which the advertising and counting mechanisms are particularly adapted. It is to be understood, however, that the advertising and counting devices forming features of the invention are also adapted for use with other machines, such, for example, as vending machines, cash registers, etc., and that I contemplate a separate or combined use of the advertising device and the counting device wherever applicable.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an advertising device operated as an auxiliary to a scale or other machine, in which the character of the advertising is changed with each operation of the machine.

Another object is to provide means for illuminating such an advertisement during the operation of the machine.

till another object is to provide a counter which is operated in conjunction with the advertising device, whereby theefi'icacy ofthe combined scale and advertising device is ascertainable.

Other objects and advantages will be a parent from the following description, 1n which reference is had to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention and in which similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of the upper part of a scale embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view of the upper portion of the scale dial, displaying an advertisement:

Figure 3 is a front elevation of a portio of the advertising device;

Figure 4 is an end view of the same;

Figure 5 is a rear elevation of the switch mechanism forming part of the invention;

' Figure 6 is a detail sectional view thereof taken on the line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view thereof taken on the line 77 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a view of a portion of the dial displaying a counter;

Figure 9 is an end elevation of the counter and part of an operating solenoid; and

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view showing the circuits employed in applicants invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the head casing 1 of the scale is carried upon the upper end of a column 2 which is adapted to be supported u on a base carrying the platform and platform lever mechanism (not shown). The particular form of loadoffsetting mechanism em )loyed is immaterial. I have, however, for the purpose of clearly illustrating the invention, shown it as embodied in a scale having load-offsetting mechanism of the pendulum type, the casing containing a frame comprising vertical guide members 3 and 4:which co-operate with fulcrum sectors 5 and 6 of a air of pendulums 7 and 8. The pendulums and 8 are provided respectively with power sectors 9 and 10 which are connected by means of flexible steel bands or ribbons 11 and 12 and an equalizer 13 to a steelyard 14C. The steelyard 14 passes downwardly through the column 2 to the platform lever mechamsm.

The pendulums are connected by means of a compensating bar 15 which is in turn connected through a rack and pinion (not shown) to the indicator hand 16. When a load is placed upon the scale the steelyard 14 and ribbons 11 and 12 are pulled downwardly and the pendulums 7 and 8 swing outwardly, carr mg the compensating bar 15 upwardly and causing the indicator hand 16 to move to a position on the dial to indicate the weight of the load.

The scale shown in the drawing is a type of person weigher adapted to be placed 1n shops and other public places. When the invention is embodied in a scale of this type the advertising display device may be advantageously located in the dial of the scale. When a person steps u on the scale plat form and reads his weig t upon the dial the advertisement is likely to attract his favorable attention. .In order to make the advertisement more striking and attractive I have provided an electrically operated device for illuminating it and renewing it upon each operation of the scale. This device is actuated by means of mechanism now to be described.

The indicator hand 16 is fixed upon a shaft 17 which is journalled in cross-members connecting the vertical fulcrum guides 3 and 4. Secured on the rear end of th indicator shaft 17 is a disc 18 and projecting from the rear face of the disc 18 is a switch operating pin 19. The controlling mechanism consists of two switches, both of which are held open when the scale is at zero. One of these switches is momentarily closed and then opened when the scale is operated and the other remains closed during the entire period that the load remains on the platform. The switch mechanism is mounted upon a plate of non-conducting material which is secured to the fulcrum guide 4.

The switch which is designed to remain closed until the scale returns to zero position comprises a depending bracket 21 provided with an adjustable contact screw 22 and a rearwardly-extending bracket 23 provided with a resilient contact strip 24. The strip 24 is held flexed out of contact with the screw 22 by the pin 19 when the scale is at zero. When the indicator swings away from zero the pin moves away from th estrip and allows it to engage the contact screw. The brackets 21 and 23 are secured to the plate 20 and are electrically connected to the lamp 25, which is so placed as to illuminate the advertisement displayed at the dial.

The switch which is designed to remain open only momentarily when the scale moves from zero position comprises a pair of brackets 26 and 27, both of which are secured upon the non-conducting plate 20. The bracket 26 is provided with an adjustable contact screw 28 and the bracket 27 is provided with a resilient contact strip 29. A small. lever 30 is pivotally carried by a bracket 31 secured to the non-conducting plate 20 and one arm of the lever 30 is provided with an insulated hook 32 which engages the resilient strip 29. The opposite end of the lever is over-weighted so that the book 32 normally pulls upwardly upon the contact strip 29 and holds it away from the contact screw 28. An adjusting screw 33 which is threaded through the bracket 31 and abuts the lever 30 serves to limit the up ward movement of the hook-carrying end thereof.

The weighted end of the lever 30 carries a pawl 34 which extends into the path of the pin 19 so that when the indicator shaft is rotated by movement of the scale from zero position the pin engages the pawl 34 and rocks the lever 30, thereby lowering the hook 32 and allowing the resilient contact strip 29 to engage the contact screw 28. As soon, however, as the pin 19 passes the pawl 34 the weighted end of the lever falls and again opens the switch. The pawl 34 is so pivoted that it tilts when engaged by the pin 19 as the scale returns to zero position. The

lever 30 is therefore unaffected by the return movement of the indicator hand.

The brackets 26 and 27 are electrically connected to solenoids which are thus momentarily energized when the scale is operated. One of the solenoids 35 furnishes the power which turns an advertising reel so as to display each of a series of advertisements in turn. Since the advertising device is not mechanically connected to the weighing mechanism it may be placed elsewhere upon the scale, or, if desired, located any convenient distance therefrom. In the eX- ample shown, the reel is j ournalled in supports located within the head casing and the advertisements are successively displayed at a window 38 in the dial of the scale.

ThQ reel shaft 39 carries upon one of its ends a ratchet 40 which is rigid with the shaft and a member 41 which is free to rock thereon. One end of the rocking member 41 is connected by means of a link 42 to the core 43 of the solenoid 35. A retractile spring 44 is connected to the other end of the rocking member 41 and normally holds the member 41 in such position that the core 43 is elevated. 'The rocking member 41 carries a spring-pressed pawl 45 which cooperates with the ratchet 40, the ratchet and pawl being so turned that the pawl may ride over the ratchet without turning the reel when the core 43 is drawn into the solenoid. When the solenoid is de-energized and the member 41 is rocked by the spring, the pawl 45 engages the ratchet and partially rotates the reel 37. Movement of the rocking member in both directions is limited by means of adjusting screws 46 and 47. Fixed upon the end of the reel shaft 39 opposite the ratchet is a star wheel 53 which is engaged by a spring-pressed detent 54 and thereby serves to register the particular advertisement on display with the window 38. The lamp 25 is so located within the casing 1 as to properly illuminate the advertisement which, is in registration with the window The counting device is herein shown as displayed through the dial, but as it is not mechanically connected to the weighing mechanism it may be located elsewhere if desired. Since my invention does not reside in the counter per se, I will not describe the counter in detail. The one chosen for illustration is of the well-known Veeder type, in which the number displayed is increased by one each time the operating arm 49, which is normally held in elevated position by a spring within the counter. is

drawn downwardly. The operating arm is connected by means of a hook 50 to the light core 51 of the small solenoid 36. Each time the solenoid is energized the core is drawn downwardly and the counter is operated.

The current for energizing the solenoids 35 and 36 is supplied from any suitable source through the medium of the plug 52 whicjh is conveniently located upon the easmg The parts being arranged as described and the device connected to a proper source of current, the scale is ready for operation. If the weighing mechanism now be actuated, as by a person stepping upon the scale platform, the indicator shaft 17 will revolve until the indicator hand 16 is opposite the graduation on the dial corresponding to the weight of the person on the platform. As

the indicator shaft begins to revolve, the

pin 19 moving therewith momentarily raises the weighted end of the lever 30 and allows the resilient contact strip 29 to engage the contact screw 28, thereby closing the circuit which energizes the solenoid 35. The core 43 is drawn into the solenoid 35, rocking the member 41 and stretching the spring 44. The pin 19 is, however, almost immediately moved, by the further rotation of the indicator shaft 17, out of engagement with the lever 30, which falls to its original position, raising the strip 29 and thereby opening the circuit and de-energizing the solenoid The spring 44 thereupon contracts, rocking the member 41; the pawl 45 engages the ratchet 40; and the reel is partially rotated to display a fresh advertisement at the window 88. At the same time the pin 19 moves away from the resilient contact strip 24 and allows it to spring into engagement with the screw 22, whereby the circuit through the lamp 25 is closed and the advertisement on dis lay is flooded with light.

ince the solenoid operating the counter is energized by a circuit closed by movement of the indicator to weighing position, the counter tallies each operation of the scale. The usefulness of the scale'as an advertising device depends somewhat upon the frequency of its use as a weighing machine, and this may be determined from time to time by noting the number of operations re istered by the counting device.

ile it will be apparent that the illustrated embodiment of my invention herein illustrated is well designed to adequately fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible to variation, modification and change within the spirit and scope of the subjoined claim. Having described my invention, I claim: In a device of the class described, in combination, a dial having a window therein, indicating mechanism movable with respect to said dial, a reel located adjacent said window, means actuated by movement of said indicating mechanism for partially rotating said reel, and means actuated by movement of said indicating mechanism for illuminating said reel.

SAMUEL G. CRANE. 

